Texas camping used to be synonymous with staying in a tent or RV. But Texas camping resorts across the Lone Star State are finding they can accommodate bigger groups and introduce more people to camping by making park model rental accommodations available to them, according to Brian Schaeffer, executive director and CEO of the Texas Association of Campground Owners.

“We’re seeing a dramatic increase in the number of parks that offer rental accommodations,” said Schaeffer, whose organization launched a separate website called TexasCabinRentals.net to help people find campgrounds with park model rental accommodations. Park models are 400-square foot, factory built units that are built on a chassis, like a trailer, but look like cabins or cottages. They come fully furnished with beds and kitchen appliances. Some even have lofts for the kids.

“We’re adding a dozen of them to our park this year,” said Steve Stafford, manager of the Jellystone Park Texas Camping Resort in Burleson, outside of Dallas.
Major campground chains like Jellystone Parks have joined independently owned and operated campgrounds across the country in adding park models as rental accommodations for their guests. Government run campgrounds are also investing in park models.

More information on the park model surge in Texas is available from the Texas Association of Campground Owners, the Crowley-based trade association that represents and markets campgrounds, RV parks and resorts across the Lone Star State. The association’s 2013 RV Travel & Camping Guide to Texas highlights the fact that Texas is a birders paradise and includes detailed information on campgrounds, RV parks and resorts, as well as old Western style maps.

James Leaming, manager of the Jellystone Park Sturbridge Massachusetts campground, has been recognized as Operator of the Year by the Jellystone Park franchise system.

The Operator of the Year Award is given in recognition of excellence in management, customer service, inspection scores and growth of business.

“We are so excited to be recognized as Operators of the Year,” said Leaming. “We truly love taking care of our guests, and we’re proud to bring families a great budget-friendly way to enjoy each other and make wonderful memories.”

The closest Massachusetts campground to historic Old Sturbridge Village, the park features full-hookup RV camping, tent camping and rustic cabin rentals. Guests will enjoy the well-stocked private lake with its sandy beach, the Aqua Center with pools, Jacuzzi and waterslide, and an award-winning recreation program featuring movies, mini golf, a video arcade, shuffleboard, a sport court and two playgrounds. Pets are welcome at campsites and cabins (leash and proof of vaccinations required.)

Massachusetts Campground Activities

In 2013, a full schedule of seasonal entertainment kicks off April 19. Plans include live bands, nationally-known impersonators, clowns, magicians, hypnotists, record hops and more, performed live under the stars at the park’s poolside patio lounge.

Jellystone Park Camp-Resort at Sturbridge is located at 30 River Road and is open year-round. For more information and reservations 508.347.9570.

Families who visit Jellystone Park’s New York Camping Resort in North Hudson on Saturday, June 22, will have a chance to see an entertaining, family oriented wrestling performance by P.A.C. Wrestling.

Proceeds from the 6 to 9 p.m. event will be donated to Upstate NY Autism Awareness (UNYAA), a non-profit group that was formed by dedicated parents of children experiencing the effects of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). UNYAA is a 100 percent volunteer organization based in Queensbury, N.Y. that provides resources and support to over 300 families and children in northern Upstate New York.

Admission to the event is by donation and is open to the public as well as guests spending the weekend at Jellystone Park New York Camping Resort. In addition to the wrestling event, there will also be a 50/50 raffle, basket raffles and concession stands.

Jellystone Park campgrounds are famous for their family-friendly activities, which also include kids crafts, themed weekend activities throughout the camping season and, of course, visits by Yogi the Bear. P.A.C. Wrestling is a non-profit group that provides family shows full of action, drama and comedy with a goal of helping those in need.

The Coleman family, owners of the Jellystone Park in Tabor City, North Carolina, has been recognized with the Facility of the Year Award by the Jellystone Park franchise system. The award is given to the Camp-Resort that has added new amenities and facilities while also showing sustained improvements on current amenities. The award was presented at the annual meeting of the Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort group in Cincinnati, OH.

Rick Coleman & Joey Coleman pictured front

Tabor City Jellystone Park guests enjoy 350 acres of meticulously manicured grounds, concrete pads, sparkling ponds, and hiking trails. Tucked away on aquiet farm in Southeastern North Carolina, the campground is just a short drive away from the attractions of Myrtle Beach and Wilmington, NC. Whether you are an angler at heart, enjoy hiking, are a social butterfly who loves planned activities or you just want to relax, you will experience natural beauty like you’ve never seen before at this North Carolina campground. Guests can choose from a range of accommodations, from tent and RV sites to North Carolina cabins and even pet-friendly yurts.

First-rate amenities include free wi-fi, accommodations, and activities for the whole family. There’s also a pool, lap pool, Yogi Bear’s Splash Zone, and Water Wars for fun in the sun; an arcade, indoor theater and amphitheater; a jungle gym playground; mini golf; gem mining; basketball and volleyball courts; and the Locomotion Ride Truck, which takes guests on a four-wheel open-air trek through muddy terrain. Nature lovers will enjoy miles of hiking trails and fully-stocked fishing ponds at this North Carolina campground. A camp ministry team leads worship services and Bible studies, and a helpful, attentive staff will make sure the entire family enjoys their getaway.

“We are thrilled to have won the “Facility of the Year” award,” said owner Rick Coleman, who runs the North Carolina campground with his family. “Our family started this operation in honor of our dad in 1999, and over the years we have grown to love providing a fun, family-friendly destination for our amazing guests. The entire Daddy Joe’s team is outstanding and this award honors all of them.”

The Jellystone Park Camp-Resort at Daddy Joe’s is located at 626 Richard Wright Road and is open year-round. If you are camping in North Carolina, visit this award-winning campground!

Ronald Bowyer, owner of the North Texas campground near Fort Worth, has been recognized with the Entrepreneur Award by the Jellystone Park franchise system. The Entrepreneur of the Year award recognizes Camp Resorts that show a strong growth in business over the prior year. The award was presented at the annual meeting of the Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp Resort group in Cincinnati.

Located 15 minutes south of downtown Fort Worth and 40 minutes west of Dallas, the campground has 37 custom-built luxury cottages (25 of which have a two-person spa and fireplace) and 248 RV sites with full hookups, 50 amp, and cable connection.

Amenities include two family pools, a kiddie pool, playground, four meeting facilities, and more. Nearby entertainment and attractions include golf, shopping, restaurants, museums, theme parks and professional sports and racing. Families will also love the laser tag field, candy bar bingo, hayrides, visits from Yogi Bear and fire truck rides.

Pirates Cove Wet & Dry Fun Park is located next door to the resort and offers seven waterslides, multi-platform play area, inflatables, arcade games and more. Add themed weekends throughout the summer, and it’s a perfect Texas camping getaway.

Ronald Bowyer (behind Yogi) and the staff at North Texas Jellystone Park.

The North Texas campground’s management team looks to continue the entrepreneurial trend with the addition of new attractions and programs in 2013. The new Lost Maze is a fun challenge for kids and parents to navigate together, and the Crafts & Activity Room will offer opportunities for families to indulge their creative sides with activities like candle making, tie-dyeing, and woodcrafts; the soon-to-open Inflatable Corral is an innovative “bouncy” park sure to wear kids out and ensure a good night’s sleep, while older kids will love the new woodlands walking and biking trail. The park’s Ranch Pool will feature a Tropical Sno Cone stand for summer 2013, and improvements to the onsite activities center include a new stage, movie screen and karaoke sound system.On the value side, guests can now choose from package deals like the Build Your Own Birthday package and Stay & Play wristbands, which allow unlimited enjoyment of all the park’s offerings.“We are always looking for ways to add value and family fun for our guests,” said owner Ron Bowyer. “We are excited that the Jellystone Park system recognized our efforts, and I am so proud of my entire team for always focusing on improving our guests’ experience. We look forward to an amazing 2013.”

The North Texas Jellystone Park campground is located at 2301 S. Burleson Blvd. in Burleson, TX and is open year-round. If you are camping in Texas, check them out!

EUREKA, Mo. — The Jellystone Park campground near St Louis will celebrate Mother’s Day weekend with special activities, including a mom versus kids scavenger hunt, a beauty shop tea party with Cindy Bear™, a cotton candy glow stick parade and a Karaoke event. Additional activities include a runway moms challenge and a mini golf tournament. Card making and sand craft activities are also planned, which give children the opportunity to create memorable gifts for their moms and other special people in their lives. Moms also receive a free pancake breakfast on Sunday morning and a flower from Yogi Bear. A mom of the year award will also be presented.

“You don’t even need a tent or RV to camp with us because we have cabins and other rental accommodations,” said Michele Wisher, a spokeswoman for Milford, Ohio-based Leisure Systems, Inc., which franchises Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts.

If you’re looking for a campground near St Louis, check out our Eureka location.

The Tyler Texas campground, which was previously known as Whispering Pines RV & Cabin Resort, joined the Jellystone Park Camp-Resort network of family campgrounds on Jan. 1. The 30-year-old Texas campground, which has 133 RV sites and 18 park model cabins, has long been a Texas camping favorite. Families enjoy the campgrounds’s lineup of themed weekends and special events from Easter through Halloween.

kids splash in the family pool

Don and Jan Tardy, who acquired the campground in May of last year with Jan’s adult children, Colt and Bree Perrin, said they wanted to join the Jellystone Park chain to expand their marketing reach. “I like the concept of Jellystone Park and I want to emphasize the fact that we are a park that caters to families,” Don Tardy said.

Jellystone Parks are famous for offering fun, family activities that include everything from crafts and games to “hey rides,” birthday parties with the bears and daily appearances by Yogi.

The campground will celebrate Mother’s Day weekend with spa-like amenities that include special stations and supplies that will be set up so that kids can give their moms manicures, pedicures and massages. The park is also planning a mom and kids team tournament, a scavenger hunt, and craft activities, which give children the opportunity to create memorable gifts for their moms and other special people in their lives.

“You don’t even need a tent or RV to camp with us because we have cabins and other vacation rentals,” said Michele Wisher, a spokeswoman for Milford, Ohio-based Leisure Systems, Inc., which franchises Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts.

The Tardys, who run the park with Jan’s adult son, Colt Perrin, already have a head start on the family activities and nice amenities, including two salt water swimming pools and a fishing pond, which is stocked with perch, bass and brim. But they plan to make more improvements to the campground in preparation for the upcoming camping season.

“We’re about to add five more cabins,” Tardy said, adding that the new cabins should be in place by May 15. Whispering Pines also has four large meeting rooms with separate kitchens to accommodate large groups. Other amenities include basketball, horseshoe, ping pong, shuffleboard and volleyball courts, a camp store and a poolside cafe.

Tardy said his market primarily involves the area between Dallas and Shreveport, La.

If you are camping in Texas, visit one of five Jellystone Parks in the state. Other Jellystone Park Texas campgrounds are located in Burleson, Canyon Lake, Fredericksburg and Waller.

Al and Rose Sahli, owners of Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park campground at Lake Eufaula, have been recognized as Operator of the Year by the Jellystone Park franchise system.

The Operator of the Year Award is given to the individual or team directly responsible for the day-to-day operation of a Camp-Resort in recognition of excellence in management and customer service, improvement of inspection scores and growth of business. The award was presented at the annual meeting of the Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort group in Cincinnati.

Al & Rose Sahli

“We are so excited to be recognized as Operators of the Year,” said Al Sahli. “We truly love taking care of our guests, and our staff is the best in the great state of Oklahoma. We’re proud to bring families a great budget-friendly way to enjoy each other and make wonderful memories.”

Located on the beautiful sandy shores of Oklahoma’s largest lake, the campground offers the best swimming, boating and fishing experience under the Oklahoma sun. Every campsite and cabin offers a view of beautiful Lake Eufaula; RV campsites are full hookup and cabins offer flat-screen TVs, kitchens and sleep up to six people. Two sandy swimming beaches, a swimming pool and a Wibit floatable sports complex and waterslide provide wet and wild fun for all ages; paddleboats, canoes and pontoon boats are also available. Kids will love panning for sparkling keepsakes at Rock Creek Gem Mining; if they have any energy left, families can check out the playground and enjoy a meal at the onsite restaurant or Snack Shack (or boost their energy at the park’s Starbucks.)

In 2013, a full schedule of themed weekends is planned, starting with the Sailboat Regatta at Eufaula Marina Cove May 16-19. Summer weekends include Father’s Day Weekend June 14-16; Eufaula’s Whole Hawg Festival July 25-29; and Totally Retro Week August 16-19.

Jellystone Park Camp-Resort at Lake Eufaula is located at 610 Lakeshore Drive in Eufaula and opens for the season on May 18.

The management team and staff at Jellystone Park campground near Pittsburgh, PA, have been recognized with the Carroll Award, which is presented to the Jellystone Park receiving the highest inspection score among the 79 campgrounds in the Jellystone Park system. The Carroll Award was presented at the annual meeting of the Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort franchise system in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Denny Quigley with daughter, Tammy, and granddaughter.

“We are truly honored to win the Carroll Award for 2013,” said owner Denny Quigley, who owns Jellystone Park at Kozy Rest with his wife, Kathy. “We appreciate that the hard work of our staff and their attention to detail is recognized.” The Quigleys run the park with their son Gary and his family.

Nestled in the beautiful countryside of Western Pennsylvania, the family-oriented campground offers shaded, level, generously-sized, full-hookup RV campsites; tent and pop-up campsites; and 12 cabin and yurt vacation rentals – including four brand-new for 2013. Guests will also find the Kozy Club Arena, a special group camping area with 23 campsites clustered around a picnic pavilion and recreation hall – perfect for family reunions, church outings and group gatherings. The pet-friendly resort offers a dog park; two-legged guests will enjoy gem mining, a pool and playground, miniature golf, a game room, hiking trails, bicycle rentals and more. The Quigleys are currently renovating and doubling the size of the park’s office and store.

The Kozy Rest staff constantly strives for improvement, attending educational seminars in the off-season to make sure every guest’s visit is one to remember. In-season (mid-April through October), a full activities schedule with themed weekends ensures family fun. The 2013 calendar includes a Pets-R-Family Weekend (May 3-5); Chocolate Fun Weekend (May 31-June 2); and Zoofari Weekend (August 2-4). Every weekend offers ceramics, bingo, and rides on the park’s train and its beloved fire truck.